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  "description": "Inside the mindset of gravel racing’s most dominant woman athlete. ",
  "path": "/my-job-is-to-beat-you-sofia-gomez-villafane-and-gravels-professional-crossroads/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-29T22:33:58.000Z",
  "site": "https://escapecollective.com",
  "tags": [
    "From WorldTour nomad to gravel podiums: The reinvention of Simon PellaudHe arrived in the US with no gravel racing experience, no expectations, no plan, and left as one of the most consistent riders of the season.Escape CollectiveAlex Hunt",
    "Subscribe now"
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  "textContent": "Josh Weinberg, Gruber Images, Velocio, Taylor Chase\n\nSofía Gómez Villafañe has had a perfect start to her 2026 season. When we caught up with the most dominant rider in women's gravel racing, the Specialized Off-Road star had returned home to Tucson, Arizona, after successfully defending her title at The Traka 200 in Girona, Spain. With only a few weeks before one of the biggest targets of the year – Unbound – she was settling into her final tune-up before making the journey to Emporia, Kansas.\n\n“All the endurance and volume was done this winter,” she explained about her preparation for the longest race she will compete in all year. “Now it’s just really sharpening the knife a little bit.” But right now, nobody in gravel appears to be sharper.\n\nAcross the opening months of 2026, Gómez Villafañe has been untouchable in off-road racing, continuing the momentum she carried through from last season into another dominant campaign. “In gravel, I haven’t lost an event this year,” she said, adding the caveat of ‘in gravel’ after having to settle for second place on the road at Levi’s GranFondo.\n\nBut while her dominance on the dirt is easy to quantify, the results alone only tell part of Gómez Villafañe’s story.\n\nTo her fans, she is one of the sport’s most complete athletes: technically gifted, tactically aggressive, and deeply analytical about racing. To others, she crosses the line to cold, calculated, and ruthless. Gómez Villafañe is aware of this reputation. She just rejects the premise that competitiveness and likability should somehow be mutually exclusive, particularly for professional sportswomen.\n\nFrom WorldTour nomad to gravel podiums: The reinvention of Simon PellaudHe arrived in the US with no gravel racing experience, no expectations, no plan, and left as one of the most consistent riders of the season.Escape CollectiveAlex Hunt\n\nWhat emerges throughout our conversation is someone far more complex than the caricature often built around her online. She's confident – unapologetically so. But also someone thoughtful and active in shaping modern gravel racing as it rapidly evolves from a grassroots scene into a fully professional sport.\n\n## The confidence of knowing herself\n\nFor Gómez Villafañe, the contrast between how she is perceived and reality often comes down to one thing: how people interpret competitiveness.\n\nShe knows how she is viewed by some people, both in and outside of the gravel scene: Aggressive and ruthless when racing. The kind of rider willing to exploit hesitation or any sign of weakness without apology. She explains where she believes this narrative has largely stemmed from: “It goes back to _Call of a Life Time_ season 1, and being portrayed as this super cutthroat, bitch athlete that thinks she's the best in the world.” However, this portrayal missed the mark in Gomez Villafañe’s opinion: “That couldn't be further from the truth.”\n\n### This post is for subscribers only\n\nBecome a member to get access to all content\n\nSubscribe now",
  "title": "'My job is to beat you': Sofía Gómez Villafañe and gravel’s professional crossroads",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-29T22:34:01.618Z"
}